IKEA, a home furnishings retailer, has installed an expanded solar energy system atop its Denver-area store that opened more than two years ago in Centennial, CO.
The 83,700-square-foot solar  addition consists of a 623-kW system, built with 2,492 panels, and will produce 961,000 kWh of electricity annually for the store.
Including the existing system, IKEA Centennial’s total 1,121-kW solar installation of 4,704 panels now will generate 1,701,000 kWh of clean electricity yearly, the equivalent of reducing 1,200 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), eliminating the emissions of 250 cars or powering 180 homes.
For the development, design and installation of the Centennial store’s customized solar power system, IKEA contracted with REC Solar, a national leader in solar electric system design and installation with more than 10,000 systems built across the U.S.
IKEA achieved its goal of completing solar installations atop nearly 90 percent of its U.S. buildings (39 out of 44 locations), with a generation goal of 38 MW, the company said. Globally IKEA has allocated $1.8 billion to invest in renewable energy through 2015.
This investment reinforces the company’s long-term commitment to sustainability and confidence in photovoltaic (PV) technology.
IKEA has set a goal to become energy independent by 2020. IKEA has installed more than 300,000 solar panels on buildings across the world and owns/operates approximately 137 wind turbines in Europe.
Globally, IKEA evaluates locations regularly for conservation opportunities, integrates innovative materials into product design, works to maintain sustainable resources, and flat-packs goods for efficient distribution.
The company was also engaged in other sustainability efforts in the U.S. including recycling waste material and incorporating energy-efficient HVAC and lighting systems, recycled construction materials, skylights in warehouse areas, and water-conserving restrooms.
Operationally, IKEA eliminated plastic bags from the check-out process, phased-out the sale of incandescent bulbs, facilitates recycling of customers’ compact fluorescent bulbs, and by 2016 will sell only L.E.D. IKEA also is installing electric vehicle charging stations at 17 stores in the U.S.